Fertilizer compositions having slow-release nitrogen compounds and methods of forming thereof
Methods of forming a fertilizer composition having slow-release nitrogen compounds with a molten process are disclosed. The methods include mixing of a crystalline polyethylene wax with urea and formaldehyde to form a molten methylene urea mixture. The contents of the molten methylene urea mixture react to form slow-release nitrogen compounds. Fertilizer compositions formed of or including the slow-release nitrogen compounds are also disclosed.
1. A fertilizer composition comprising:
slow-release nitrogen compounds, the slow-release nitrogen compounds comprising at least one of methylenediurea (“MDU”) and dimethylenetriurea (“DMTU”); and
about 2% to about 10%, by weight, of a first crystalline polyethylene wax; and
wherein the at least one of MDU and DMTU comprise about 45% or more of the total nitrogen in the fertilizer composition; and
wherein the fertilizer composition exhibits a complex viscosity of about 0.1 Pas to about 0.20 Pas when measured at a temperature of about 150° C.
2. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the crystalline polyethylene wax at least partially occludes the slow-release nitrogen compounds.
3. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , further comprising about 8% or less cold-water insoluble nitrogen.
4. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the first crystalline polyethylene wax exhibits one or more of:
a number average molecular weight of about 600 to about 1,200;
a polydispersity index of about 1.02 to about 1.7; and
a crystallinity of about 60% to about 96% as determined by differential scanning calorimetry.
5. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the first crystalline polyethylene wax has a number average molecular weight of about 600 to about 1,000.
6. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the first crystalline polyethylene wax has a polydispersity of about 1.08 to about 1.09.
7. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the first crystalline polyethylene wax has a dynamic viscosity of about 7 cps to about 15 cps when measured at a temperature of 150° C.
8. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 further comprises a second crystalline polyethylene wax.
9. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 comprises about 2.5% to about 7.5%, by weight, of the crystalline polyethylene wax.
10. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 further comprises one or more of a triazone, a urea-triazone, and isobutylidene-diurea.
11. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 further comprises one or more of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur, and zinc.
12. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 exhibits one or more of:
(a) a dynamic (absolute) viscosity of about 0.02 Pas to about 0.06 Pas when measured at a temperature of about 150° C.; and
(b) a viscous modulus of about 0.5 Pa to about 1.2 Pa when measured at a temperature of about 150° C.
13. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 exhibits a tan delta of about 3.00 or greater.
14. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 exhibits a rheological phase angle of about 72 degrees or greater.
15. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 exhibits a complex viscosity of about 0.1 Pas to about 0.20 Pas when measured at a temperature of about 150° C.
16. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 exhibits nitrogen release over about 80 days or greater.
17. The fertilizer composition of claim 1 is sprayable.
18. A method of treating plants by applying the fertilizer composition of claim 1 to a plant.